Georgia Tech football: NFL departures entice players to commit

The surprises should be held to a minimum as the suspense that likely will happen took place Tuesday.

When Georgia Tech officials cram around a campus fax machine this morning, everything should go according to plan, although the plan changed a bit Tuesday when Louis Young, a 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back out of Olney, Md., reportedly decided to sign with the Yellow Jackets. ESPN reported that Young, who had been committed to Stanford, will sign with Georgia Tech.

As National Signing Day kicks off, each of the names those around the ACC championship program have gotten to know the past year are expected to come trickling in with each of their signatures in tow. Three of them are already enrolled.

High school seniors across the nation today are making their college choices finally known, and the Yellow Jackets are in the position of knowing precisely who ought to be headed to their program next fall.

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Three weeks ago, following Georgia Tech’s Orange Bowl loss to Iowa, coach Paul Johnson watched his 13-player recruiting class unexpectedly expand after hearing the news that four of his best juniors were leaving early for the NFL. Then came news last week that his defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, Giff Smith, was bolting to the professional ranks, as well, to become an assistant.

Smith told reporters last week that his decision to leave just seven days before signing day would have no impact on the class the Yellow Jackets were set to land.

“Georgia Tech’s a special place, and you recruit different type of (players) at this school,” Smith said. “These (players) are intelligent (players). They understand the value of the Georgia Tech degree and understand what it can do as far as opening up opportunities later in life once football is over.

“Like I said, timing is never great, but it was never an issue where I thought it would ever affect recruiting in any way. Coach Johnson’s doing a tremendous job here, and the momentum is really strong, and he’s going to hire a great guy to come in, and I don’t see any disruptions at all.”

The Yellow Jackets have not made a hire for Smith’s replacement, although rumors have circulated that there could be consideration to name linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary the newest recruiting coordinator because of his large role in helping land key recruits.

The Yellow Jackets also expect to see signatures come in from Phenix City, Ala., standout Deon Hill, who joins a line of current Yellow Jackets from what has become a pipeline school.

Last February, Phenix City native Orwin Smith signed, following in the footsteps of All-ACC offensive lineman Cord Howard.